Tiny UK airport named among Europe's best but it's nowhere near London

In an era of flashy global airports boasting waterfalls and amusement parks that put Heathrow to shame, there is one small UK airport that is a consistent star.

This tiny airport in Scotland has been named one of the best in Europe for the past five years running, in fact. Inverness Airport has been recognised once again by the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. Inverness was listed among the top six airports in Europe which service under two million passengers annually.

Airports Council International determines the best airports based on a survey measuring passenger satisfaction. The awards recognises airports with the top 20 percent overall satisfaction score - organised by size and region.

Inverness was among six European airports recognised in its section, the only airport in the category in the UK. In fact, the Scottish airport was the only hub in the category not based in Spain.

The only other UK airport included in the awards was Newcastle International Airport in the two to five million passengers per year category.

Inverness Airport’s exemplary staff also received recognition from the Airports Council International. The airport won another ASQ award for having some of the most dedicated airport staff in Europe - for the third year in a row.

Graeme Bell, General Manager of Inverness Airport, said: "To win these awards for the fifth consecutive year is an incredible achievement and a proud moment for everyone involved with Inverness Airport.

“Being recognised for the third year running as the Airport with the Most Dedicated Staff in Europe as well is a testament to the hard work, passion, and commitment of our entire team,” Bell continued.

Inverness Airport is located nine miles east of Inverness city centre and is a key transport hub for the Highlands and Islands. The airport hosts carriers including Loganair, TUI, KLM, easyJet and British Airways. It offers routes to the likes of London, Majorca, Belfast and the Outer Hebrides.

If you interested in experiencing the exceptional customer service first-hand, you might want to consider a festive trip to Finland later this year. Inverness Airport will host a one-day trip to Lapland on December 13, 2025.

Passengers will depart from Inverness in the morning and return the same day, experiencing husky rides and ice skating in Lapland in-between.

2024 ASQ Award winners for European airports servicing under two million annual passengers:

• El Hierro Airport (Valverde, Spain)
• Girona-Costa Brava Airport (Costa Brava, Spain)
• Inverness Airport (Inverness, United Kingdom)
• Pamplona Airport (Pamplona, Spain)
• Reus Airport (Reus, Spain)
• Zaragoza Airport (Zaragoza, Spain)